Corporate Blogging: A new marketing communication tool for companies.

Corporate blogging is a new marketing communication tool that used by some organizations to reach its organizational goals. Internally, blogs are referred to a tool for collaboration and knowledge management. Externally, blogs strengthened relationships with important target groups and the positioning of the publishing organization as industry experts.

To create a blog, the organization first needs to determine the goals of setting corporate blog. Every company has its unique needs and it is better of evaluating its need thoroughly before everything gets started. Next is to access the market for blog viability because there are some segments of the organization who do not have interest on blogs. Step in accessing the variability is through reading and subscribing other blogs in the same industry. From there, an organization may assess on competitors and customer requirements. Thirdly is to map the overall marketing or communication strategy where the marketing team should draw out the marketing objectives and outline the content of the organization blog. As such, the users will have high level of satisfaction after each time visiting to the blog. Continue with the risk profile assessment, which is the investigation phase that well grounded the perspective on how the organization might proceed into the blogosphere, or any other social media related space that requires the mindset shift.

Corporate blogging helps an organization link up internally or externally. All users can access to the blogging web for the business related matters. It is highly cost effective since it need no conference and printed materials to all the users. By using corporate blogging, users are encouraged to share their ideas freely in an honest voice that will become the sincere advice for the blogging companies.

However, blogs are easy to start but hard to maintain. Writing coherently is one of the most difficult and time-consuming tasks for a human being to undertake. As a result, many blogs are not updated, thus damaging the reputation of the organization. Moreover, if the blogs are not controlled well, it will looks like disorganization with multiple tones and opinions, thus confusing the users.

To launch a blog is not a difficult matter, every individual or corporate can launch a blog as they like. Most of the websites that provide blogging are free of charge. The organizations must be taking into consideration of the advantages and disadvantage of the blogging before they start anything.

Local e-commerce site: Lelong.com.my

What is Lelong.com.my? Lelong.com.my website is a Malaysia auction website which its style and functioning was similar to the international auction site such as eBay.com. It provide a market place for people around the Malaysia to buy the product without need to shop and it provide the place for seller to sell their product and services without the need to open the shop. By doing these, it can help people to save the cost such as cost of rental the shop and cost of travel.

Lelong.com.my website is based on Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C) transactions relationship and Business-to-Consumer (B2C) transaction relationships. As in this website ,we found that there are not only many consumer are display their product on the forum for selling to other consumer but there are also many distributors are using this website to trade and grow their business.

Features
Besides that, there are many products and services are sell over in these website such as antiques and collectibles, jewellery and accessories, toys and games, house and property, health and medical, movie and video and so on. These products and services has been properly organize base on their categories, so that it make people easy to select the product and services which they wish to buy. Moreover, the website also provide search engine to make convenient for the consumer to search for information about the product.

Moreover, the website also provides FAQ which allow the user to enquiry the question and get the answer quickly. Furthermore, the website also provides some guideline for user to prevent the online transaction fraud. The Safe trade Services provided by the website can help to ensure the user transaction is safe.

Lelong.com.my website also allows the merchandise to advertising their product with the minimum advertisement fee which is only RM4.50 per day. For those merchandise who wish to promote their new product, they can always choose to advertise their product on this website since the advertising fee is reasonable.

In conclusion, lelong.com.my website provides a online marketplace for Malaysian to conduct the business easily and in rapid time. With this website, buyer and seller can conduct the business directly since there is no intermediary. Therefore, both party will better off because their can get the good bargaining price.

For further information about this website, you can go to
http://www.lelong.com.my/
http://help.lelong.com.my/cms/AllProduct.asp?CatID=29

Things to take note to prevent e-auction fraud when a consumer participating in an e-auction

E-auction is an auction conducted online. Nowadays, buying new or used products through online auction is become so popular. However, e-auction fraud also has grown quickly due to the fast cash and hard to trace aspects of online transactions. Examples of fraud are set up fake accounts, order goods never delivered, or even buyers sending fake checks, etc. Therefore, consumers need to be careful when deal with online auction.

Here are some things to take note that might useful to the consumers:

• Learn how the e-auction runs. Before you make a bid, find out what obligations you have as a buyer and seller. And also verify that does the auction site provide insurance that covers buyers up to a certain amount.

• Don’t judge the product by initial appearances. It can be hard to validate a seller’s claims about the value of an item, and descriptions or photographs on websites can be misleading. Know as much as you can about the item you wish to purchase.

• Check the seller’s feedback rating if available on the auction site. Read any comments left by previous buyers to find out seller’s trustworthy and honest. Call the seller to see if the phone number is working, or send an email to see if the email address is active.

• Contact the seller before bidding. Find out what type of payment is required, when you can expect delivery, what the return policy is, if the merchandise is covered by warranty, and if shipping and delivery are included in the price.

• Refuse to give out your bank account number or identity card number to the seller. Protect your personal information to reduce the risk of from falling victim to identity theft fraud.

• For higher priced items you should consider an escrow service. An escrow service acts as a middleman between buyer and seller to ensure a fair transaction. The escrow service holds the item and the money until the buyer has inspected and approved the goods. Only then it releases the money to the seller.

For further information, please refer:
Tips for auction buyers
Internet auctions-A guide for buyers and sellers

E-Government in Malaysia

E-government Implementation

E-government basically range from “the use of information technology to make it convenient for movement of information to overcome the physical bounds of traditional paper and physical based systems” to “the use of technology to enhance the access and delivery of government services to benefit citizens, business partners and employees.” The government has put in numerous effort to introduce e-government. At this stage, the government has so far implemented four types of e-government services that are Government-to-Citizen (G2C), Government-to-Business (G2B), Government-to-Employee (G2E), and Government-to-Government (G2G).

G2C refers to information dissemination to the public, basic citizen services such as license renewals, ordering of birth or death or marriage certificates and filing of income taxes, as well as citizen assistance for basic services such as education, health care, hospital information, libraries, and so on.

Business services offered through G2B includes obtaining current business information, downloading application forms, renewing licenses, registering businesses, obtaining permits and payment of taxes.

To renew road tax online, please refer to:
http://www.jpj.gov.my/

On the other hand, G2E services encompass G2C services as well as specialized services that govern only government employees, such as the provision of human resource training and development that improve the bureaucracy’s day-to-day functions and dealings with citizens.

Lastly, G2G services take place at two levels which are at local or domestic level and at the international level. G2G services are transactions between central or national and local governments, and between department-level and attached agencies and bureaus. At the same time, G2G services refer to transactions between governments and can be used as an instrument of international relations and diplomacy.

Citizen’s Adoption Strategies

Although the government has developed e-government, there are still many citizens that do not utilize the facilities provided by the government due to several reasons. First of all, the government should educate the citizen on the usefulness and method of using the e-government. There is no doubt that many of us do not know about the e-government especially those who are not receiving education or illiterate in using computer and internet. The government should let the citizen know that e-government is helpful in their daily life such as having access to hospital or library information. An individual do not have to waste time and physically present at the hospital to inquire about a particular matter.

Next, internet security breakdown and the increasing number of hackers that are able to access to our system to get hold of our data and change the data contributes to lacking use of e-government. For instance, many people feel insecure with transferring money and personal data through internet to the government even though security is imposed by the government. Therefore, the government must let the citizen has confidence in using e-government and the individual must be able to overcome their fear and insecurities.

Citizen also plays an important role in using the e-government. It is pointless that the government has made an effort to initiate the use of e-government but the citizen has done nothing. Those people who do not own a computer should purchase a computer first. After that, they should master the way of using internet to adopt e-government system.

To conclude, the government and citizen must cooperate and work together to make the implementation of e-government a success. Ultimately, e-government aims to enhance access to and delivery of government services to benefit citizens.

For further information, please refer to:

http://www.intanbk.intan.my/psimr/editorial.htm

The application of pre-paid cash card for consumers

Have you ever use or try pre-paid cash card? Ooppss! Before that, do you know what pre-paid cash card is? Let me explain to you what is it all about. Pre-paid cash card is an electronic card which holds electronic monetary value that substitute for cash and coins for low-value payments. One can use the credits in the card to purchase goods and services from various merchants. This pre-paid cash card had enhanced our daily life where it makes our life become more convenient and we do not need to pay extra charges for it. The value is stored directly on this card.

Touch ’n Go

Touch ’n Go card is an example of pre-paid cash card in Malaysia. Initially, this card was used at all highways in Malaysia, such as PLUS, to pay toll. As time passes, the function of Touch ’n Go card has increased. It can be used on major public transports in Klang Valley, such as RapidKL and KTM Komuter, selected parking sites, and even now can be used to purchase goods and services in selected places.

Octopus

The Octopus card is a pre-paid cash card use in Hong Kong. Octopus card system has since grown into a widely used payment system for virtually all public transport in Hong Kong. It is also used for payment at convenience stores, supermarkets, fast-food restaurants, on-street parking meter, car parks, and other point-of-sales applications. Besides consumer transactions, Octopus cards can also be used for access control in buildings and for school administrative functions. At certain office buildings, residential buildings, and schools, usage of an Octopus card is required to access their facilities.

In conclusion, the usage of pre-paid cash card is getting popular and is going to be widely used in Malaysia. It is highly recommended to use pre-paid cash card because bringing lots of cash for shopping is very risky and dangerous. Besides that, by using pre-paid cash card can prevent people from going bankruptcy.